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Stimulus bill offers millions for vax campaigns

State governments have begun to tot up millions of dollars provided in the new stimulus bill for vaccination programs.

A total of $300 million has been set aside in the $787 billion bill for vaccine programs aimed at "underserved Americans." In Minnesota, for example, the state will get $3.7 million for a vaccine campaign. In New Jersey, officials are planning to use $6 million in federal funds to encourage the state's low-income residents to get vaccinated.

"I expect to see Ohio's already-high immunization rates increase as a result of this funding," said Ohio Department of Health Director Alvin D. Jackson, who gets $7.5 million.

The federal government will use part of the stimulus money to fund a vaccine awareness campaign while states can earn grants supporting innovative new approaches to making sure that everyone gets the vaccine they need.

- read the report in the Saint Paul Legal-Ledger- read the story in the Star-Ledger